At the start of the novel, both Liesel and Max were in poor states. Liesel felt alone, depressed, and isolated after having lost her mother and brother. She refused to trust either parent, and did not allow herself to become vulnerable during her initial stay. As her foster parents and new friends treated her with kindness and compassion, she allowed herself to open up to other people, significantly improving her life for the rest of the novel. At the same time, Max had been traveling alone towards Hans’ home to seek refuge to avoid the Holocaust. Like Liesel, he had no family members with him when he arrived at Hans’ home. Being a German Jew, he was forced into hiding when the Nazi Party gained power. He left his family behind to save himself, and the guilt he feels from it …show more content…
Liesel becomes wiser (psychologically stronger), learning the massive power behind books as she reads the books she stole while surrounded by Nazi propaganda. Meanwhile, Max boosts his endurance (physically stronger) during his stay in the basement with his daily exercises, and his daydreams involving his boxing fights with Adolf Hitler. His strength helps him survive the Holocaust after being sent to a concentration camp, which allows him and Liesel to reunite later, many years after the end of the war. Many various people and events shaped the lives of the two characters drastically.
Obviously, the first event is Hitler gaining power. Had the Nazi Party been unable to gain control of Germany, Liesel’s father would not have been taken away for his communist opinions, nor would Max have to leave his family for being Jewish. In addition, Hans Hubermann greatly affected both characters’ lives. Hans’ laid-back personality and assistance helped Liesel learn to read. Hans’ connections with Max’s father also saved Max’s life, as the Jew was able to flee to Hans’ home for safety during the